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New Malibu starts under $23,000, Hybrid Malibu to join lineup as well

Discussion in 'Prius, Hybrid, EV and Alt-Fuel News' started by Tideland Prius, Oct 3, 2007.

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  1. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    General Motors announced pricing on the important new Chevrolet Malibu model earlier this week. The basic LS model opens the bidding at $22,995. A well equipped 1LT package Malibu takes the price up to $24,895, while a fully loaded LTZ model comes in at $33,610.

    "This is GM's attempt to get back into the passenger car market," said automotive industry analyst Erich Merkle. Aside from the competitive pricing, GM is also backing the car with a massive advertising campaign. The importance of Malibu for GM cannot be overlooked.

    Two engines are available to suit a variety of needs. The first is a 169 horsepower, 2.4 litre four-cylinder, while a 252 horsepower V6 can be fitted for added performance and power. A six speed automatic transmission comes with the V6, and will be offered on the four-cylinder mill starting this spring too- a segment first.

    "Malibu is built to be the best midsize car in the market and is loaded with standard features that many competitors don't offer at any price," said Marc Comeau, vice president of Sales, Service and Marketing for GM of Canada. "The design team focused on the attributes that mattered most to midsize car buyers. Malibu has great performance, fuel economy and refinement, packaged in a clean contemporary design that carries the new face of Chevrolet."

    A hybrid model will also join the lineup, with a starting price of just $26,995.

    Source: Auto123.com
     
    #1 Tideland Prius, Oct 3, 2007
  2. JackDodge

    JackDodge Gold Member

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    Unless GM fixes the body integrity problems (seals, wind noise, water leaks, fit and finish) that the Malibu is still prone to, it'll never be the Camry killer that they want it to be. The hybrid is mild and adds perhaps two mpg over the gas-only version. Reliability is above average but if I had to choose, I'd go with the Camry hybrid which is a much better value. I predict that it'll be considered a flag-waver special that will only appeal to Union-Made fanatics unless they clean up the body integrity problems.
     
    #2 JackDodge, Oct 3, 2007
  3. malorn

    malorn Senior Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(JackDodge @ Oct 3 2007, 01:17 PM) [snapback]520720[/snapback]</div>
    Jack it is aiming right at the Camry and much like the silverado has blunted the new tundra, i think it will cut into the Camry and Accord sales. GM is really getting its game face on. Jim Press said in January when he saw the car that it is a "game-changer".
     
    #3 malorn, Oct 3, 2007
  4. crypter

    crypter New Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(malorn @ Oct 3 2007, 11:37 AM) [snapback]520736[/snapback]</div>

    Interesting that he didn't say it was a "game-winner". Even more interesting will be the actual sales numbers to compare against the Camry and Accord. GM certainly needs to pull something out :blink: and address the issues that plague their cars and perpetuate the poor image they have, especially compared to their Asian counterparts...

    We'll see...
     
    #4 crypter, Oct 3, 2007
  5. malorn

    malorn Senior Member

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    #5 malorn, Oct 3, 2007
  6. Rae Vynn

    Rae Vynn Artist In Residence

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    As I've mentioned before, I had a Malibu ('01), and I'd never own one again!
    My Prius was a definite UPGRADE from the Malibu, in every category.
     
    #6 Rae Vynn, Oct 3, 2007
  7. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    #7 Tideland Prius, Oct 3, 2007
  8. malorn

    malorn Senior Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Tideland Prius @ Oct 3 2007, 03:59 PM) [snapback]520824[/snapback]</div>
    My apologies then. Isn't the canadian dollar trading about even with the Amercian dollar?
     
    #8 malorn, Oct 3, 2007
  9. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(malorn @ Oct 3 2007, 02:00 PM) [snapback]520826[/snapback]</div>
    Yes it is. Last time I checked it was Cdn$1 = US$1.0071

    Shows you the discrepancy in pricing, eh?
     
    #9 Tideland Prius, Oct 3, 2007
  10. malorn

    malorn Senior Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Tideland Prius @ Oct 3 2007, 04:03 PM) [snapback]520829[/snapback]</div>
    Is it like that for all vehicles?
     
    #10 malorn, Oct 3, 2007
  11. crypter

    crypter New Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(malorn @ Oct 3 2007, 02:14 PM) [snapback]520839[/snapback]</div>
    No, just those in Canada :D :D :D
     
    #11 crypter, Oct 3, 2007
  12. crypter

    crypter New Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(malorn @ Oct 3 2007, 01:50 PM) [snapback]520816[/snapback]</div>

    2008 Accord:
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]

    2008 Camry:
    [​IMG]

    2008 Malibu:
    [​IMG]

    I guess it's in the eye of the beholder...
     
    #12 crypter, Oct 3, 2007
  13. morpheusx

    morpheusx Professor Chaos

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(malorn @ Oct 3 2007, 05:14 PM) [snapback]520839[/snapback]</div>
    I think it is typical GM pricing, price it way higher then they need to that way when they offer the $3000 - $5000 rebate you feel like you got a good deal. Even though the price after the rebate should have been the "competitive price" to begin with.
     
    #13 morpheusx, Oct 3, 2007
  14. bulldog

    bulldog Member

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    The Ford Fusion has been out for a little while. It's reliability ratings is right up there with the Accord and Camry, and reading all the reports it is a very solid product. Yet, even with the very expansive FOrd dealership network it only captured a small slice of the pie. Increased sales in that segment for Ford IIRC, but hardly changed the face of the playing field.

    I seriously doubt the Malibu is on par with the FUsion (time will tell), so I would like to see how well it will fair in the real world in thsi competitive segment.
     
    #14 bulldog, Oct 3, 2007
  15. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(malorn @ Oct 3 2007, 02:14 PM) [snapback]520839[/snapback]</div>
    Pricing? ya.

    Fully loaded Prius with leather, nav, HID, bluetooth, backup camera in the Touring Edition - US$28k.

    Fully loaded Canadian version (but no leather or HIDs since we don't get them) - $35.5k (after the 2008 price drop. Used to be $38k btwn 2005 and 2007).
     
    #15 Tideland Prius, Oct 3, 2007
  16. grand total

    grand total Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Tideland Prius @ Oct 3 2007, 02:03 PM) [snapback]520706[/snapback]</div>
    I've seen one, it was in our local mall last weekend. A sign on it said the hybrid is not available until October or November 2008 (can't remember which). I was amused to see that under the hood the plastic powertrain cover has been designed to look like an HSD powertrain.
     
    #16 grand total, Oct 4, 2007
  17. Topgas

    Topgas New Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(malorn @ Oct 3 2007, 02:37 PM) [snapback]520736[/snapback]</div>
    I get excited everytime a US car mfg claims that finally they're going to step up to the plate and be competitive with Toyota and Honda. The only problem is that they go back to their old tricks and use price, advertizing and incentives to try and compete. I gave up a long time ago.....
     
    #17 Topgas, Oct 4, 2007
  18. malorn

    malorn Senior Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Topgas @ Oct 4 2007, 06:42 AM) [snapback]521074[/snapback]</div>

    The Malibu is coming, production starts October 15th. ;) It is a game-changer.
     
    #18 malorn, Oct 4, 2007
  19. Jonnycat26

    Jonnycat26 New Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Grand Total @ Oct 4 2007, 07:24 AM) [snapback]521068[/snapback]</div>
    You know, all cars have had plastic covers over the engine and powertrains for... do not know... about a decade now, if not longer. I rather think HSD was just trying to look like other powertrains. :)
     
    #19 Jonnycat26, Oct 4, 2007
  20. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(malorn @ Oct 4 2007, 04:49 AM) [snapback]521075[/snapback]</div>
    I hope you're right but topgas isn't just spewing gas (sorry.. i know bad pun).


    I remember looking at the pricing difference between a 2002 and 2003 Cadillac DeVille. The price difference between the two years almost matched the incentives that were offered at that time by GM Canada so really, the incentives were not incentives. People were still paying full price.
     
    #20 Tideland Prius, Oct 4, 2007
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